James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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or by email:gurneyjourney (at) gmail.comSorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.

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All images and text are copyright 2015 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.

However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Here’s a portrait of my son Frank that I painted from life when he was six years old.

At that age, it was basically impossible to get him to hold still for an hour-and-a-half portrait, except for this unusual circumstance.

We were staying on a farm in Ireland, and he discovered a kitten that was being harassed by dogs. The dogs kept playing with the poor thing, picking it up in their mouths, until it got soaking wet and completely exhausted.

Frank rescued the kitten and put it in his lap. It fell instantly asleep under his protection. For as long as it slept, he held as still as a statue.

James,I completely understand the challenge of capturing a good likeness of your own child. My eight-year old daughter is one the hardest subjects I can think of - the constant movement is part of it. But there's something else - kind of a deep thing - psychological even. I guess I have trouble with objective observation when it comes to her? I suppose I hold and cherish a very idealized concept in my head. Something to work on :-)Happy Derby Day, Sinco de Mayo, Free Comicbook Day and end of the Mayan Calendar!Kindly,JG

Reminds me of this old child hood photo that was taken of me and my neighbor. I had placed plastic glasses that came from one of those potato heads on his pet black cat named Scotty and was holding the kitty for his photo shoot. :D